Thursday, January 6, 2011

This Dilapidated Farmhouse, Part 3

Earlier this week I picked up several books on electrical wiring from the library. Remember the library? I had forgotten, too--it's been years and years since I had set foot in one, but I'm so glad I've rediscovered it! Online advice on renovating my old house is often either too confusing or not very reliable, but after picking up a few books on the subject, it's all clear as a bell now.

OK, not really, but I do feel a lot more confident than when I started. I hope that my brother, the ex-electrician (and current website programmer, 4.0 college graduate, Mr Smarty), can help fill in the gaps.

I sat down last night to sketch out the wiring plan for the upstairs, which will be the first step in rebuilding it once I get everything tore out. I hope to have it all cleaned out by the end of winter. What I found, when I began my wiring plan, was that I really need to know how I'm going to set up the bathroom upstairs. The bedrooms are easy--socket on each wall, a switch by every door and a ceiling fan/light in the center of the ceiling, but the bathroom--that's a little tricker.

So, before I can finalize my wiring plan, I need to at least have a basic design lay-out for my upstairs (master) bath. As you probably recall, I had earlier pegged this as my preferred design:

However, above anything else, I reserve the right to change my mind. While I love the above design, it doesn't do anything to refect the character and charm of my 120 year-old abode. So, I've decided to take a more down-to-earth approach.

Ah, that's better! I've decided in both the baths and kitchen, I'd really like to find some large, old pieces of furniture to repurpose as vanities and cabinet storage. Sort of like this:

Although I'd have to have more of a water-friendly backsplash, this vanity is full of charm and character.

And speaking of charm and character:

Wow. Now, this is probably a little too rustic for me (I could never achieve a clean look like here--it would just look dirty and old, rather than charming and rustic), I DO love the idea of having an old bathtub in a cubby like this, with the pendant light above it, and the shelf at the foot for candles and bath salts and scrubs. It looks like heaven....

I've had the hardest time just trying to figure out where everything should go in my new bathroom. Here, the tub is actually in the corner, which makes for a very welcoming design.

I think the beadboard and mirror really sets it off. Also, notice the use of wall lighting here. This is why I have to figure out my bath design before wiring--what if I wanted to use something like this?

Or, perhaps I could go minimal, and install a large window to maximize natural light, like here:

One thing I have to keep in mind, that if I install another window, it would have to be on the north wall. While the new windows will be much better, do I want a north-facing window in the winter in my upstairs bath? I don't know the answer to that, but something I need to consider.

Another consideration is the vanity. Look at this one here. You can't even hardly tell that it is a vanity. It is warm and unassuming. I love it, but could never keep the area around the sink clean enough, I don't think.

This vanity is truly lovely, but even though as dark and elegant as it is, it doesn't detract from the tub because of the tub's placement.

Here, a tub is placed in another small space. I think I like the privacy that the small space creates--a sense of intimacy that would be relaxing. That's exactly why I want a full-sized tub, too--to relax after a long day of working around the farm.

I'm not crazy about this tub or its placement here, but I do love the shelf on the back wall, with the hooks to hang towels and such. I hate having to get out of the tub and walk, dripping wet, to get my towel. This is a great solution to that, and it adds an unexpected point of interest in the room as well.

I'm still not sure exactly what I want--I usually need to let all the ideas soak in until I come up with a vision of my own, but I think it's a lot of fun to look!

I hope I can get a clawfoot tub. I have always wanted one, and I know they are expensive, but it's probably the one thing that I really do want to spend money on in this house. I really do like the mouldings in the second photo--they are simple and yet really warm the place up, don't they? :)

My Life

I love my life: my loving husband, my two adorable step-kids, my critters, and the great outdoors. Along the way I've been blessed with wonderful friends and family to help me in my journey.

Here's you'll find the smorgasbord of random happenings that is my life: everything from my journeys off the beaten path, to renovating old, dilapidated furniture, to my everlasting search for better health, to my propensity for trying new things.

My life isn't how I planned, but I wouldn't change a moment of it. I used to say I wanted an average life, but now I see that was never meant for me. I have learned to embrace the chaos, and this blog is my way of sharing my journey through the pandemonium that is my life.